Things became a bit easier after papyrus found out about my chronic pain.

He stopped pushing me quite as hard, although he still bugged me about my socks.

Occasionally, he'd call in for me to Undyne, let her know that I couldn't come in. it didn't happen often, but I appreciated him doing that.

Today, however… today was day #3 of a really bad bought of pain, the kind that won't let me get out of bed and has tears sliding down my face. Papyrus has been very worried, and he's tried everything to ease my pain, from food, to healing magic, to sea tea. None of it's worked, but his stubbornness is so cool.

I can hear Papyrus calling in for me again. Undyne doesn't sound happy about it.

Not like I can hear what she's saying. I'm just imagining angry fish noises. Heh. ow.

I hope Undyne isn't too mad. I don't want Paps to have to deal with that.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, HE'S STILL SICK?!"

"I MEAN, HE'S STILL SICK, UNDYNE. I THOUGHT I WAS BEING CLEAR…"

"NGAA! NOT WHAT I MEANT! You're both SKELETONS, how do you even get sick?!"

"THE SAME WAY ALL MONSTERS DO, UNDYNE."

"Still, I'm not sure he isn't just finding another way to slack off. I'm coming over to check."

"WAIT, UNDY-"

-Click-

"DANG IT. I WAS HOPING TO LET SANS REST. I HAVE TO LET HIM KNOW THAT UNDYNE IS COMING OVER."

"SANS?"

Y-yea, bro?"

"UNDYNE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE SICK. SHE'S COMING TO CHECK HERSELF."

"She is? D-damn."

"I'M SORRY, BROTHER."

"S'not your fault, Paps. I shoulda guessed she'd catch on."

I could hear Sans struggling to get the words out. I wish that Undyne had just believed me. It'd be so much easier on Sans if she had.

I'm going to try to slow her down. Maybe I can dissuade her from coming into Sans' room?

-THUD THUD THUD-

"PAPYRUS! Open up!"

"I'M COMING UNDYNE! PLEASE DON'T BREAK THE DOOR AGAIN!"

I rush to the door and open it.

"HELLO UNDYNE! CAN I OFFER YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK?"

"No. I want to check on the punk. If he's lazing about in his room or at Grillby's, then he's out a job." Undyne said as she stomped up the stairs towards Sans' room. I followed behind her, trying to persuade her to stop or at least wait a minute. However, my attempts didn't work, and we were at Sans' door all to soon. Undyne barges in, then stops suddenly, causing me to bump into her back. Moving around her, I see her staring at Sans, eye wide. I look too, scared of what I might see. I had never seen Undyne react like this before.

Sans lays in his bed, with the blanket up to his hips. He's shaking, bones making a faint rattling noise. Magical sweat coats his bones, dripping down to further soak the bed beneath him. Tears continue to occasionally roll down his face. His pain's gotten worse.

I make my way over to him, sitting beside him and gently lifting him into a sitting position. I hear him gasp, but instead of reacting I reach beside the bed to pick up the sea tea I had left there earlier. It was still partially full, and I offered it to him to drink. Sans managed to drink a little, but not as much as I think he should. Gently, I lay him back down. Using the clean water and washcloth I had brought up before Undyne came, I gently wipe off his bones. Undyne continues to gape, and when I finish I gently lead her out of Sans' room, and shut the door.

"I TOLD YOU HE WAS SICK, UNDYNE. I WASN'T LYING."

"Papyrus, that's much more than just 'being sick.' Tell me what's going on. Now."

"O-OKAY. I DON'T KNOW MUCH, I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND SANS HATES TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW."

"BACK BEFORE ALPHYS, THERE WAS ANOTHER ROYAL SCIENTIST, NAMED W.D. GASTER. SANS EXPLAINED THAT AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED DURING GASTER'S DEATH THAT CAUSED HIM TO BE ERASED FROM EXISTENCE. ANYWAY, HE WAS OUR... WELL, I GUESS THE CLOSEST WORD IS 'FATHER' BUT HE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE MUCH OF ONE. HE EXPERIMENTED ON SANS AND I. IT'S WHAT CAUSED THE SCARS ON MY HANDS, AND SANS HAS CHRONIC PAIN AND LOW STATS AS A RESULT."

"What the FUCK? If this Gaster asshole was still alive he wouldn't be for much longer."

"UNDYNE! DON'T SAY SUCH THINGS! ANYWAY, WE HAVEN'T TOLD ANYONE ASIDE FROM YOU BECAUSE SANS DOESN'T WANT TO BE TREATED LIKE A BABYBONES. AND HONESTLY, NEITHER OF US WANT PITY."

"Papyrus…"

"I'M SERIOUS, UNDYNE. WE DON'T WANT TO BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY. PLEASE DON'T DO SO YOURSELF."

"OK. I'm… going to leave you to care for Sans now. Just let me know the next time he needs a day off. I'll understand."

"THANK YOU, UNDYNE."